Functional Safety Engineer

Gravisrobotics seeks a Mid-level Functional Safety Engineer in Zürich to manage the safety lifecycle for autonomous heavy construction robots, ensuring compliance with ISO 13849 and Machinery Directive standards.

This position is responsible for the end-to-end safety lifecycle of robotic and automated systems, spanning from initial hazard analysis through to validation and regulatory submission. The role operates at the intersection of hardware, software, and real-world deployment, ensuring that products are inherently safe for operations in challenging environments such as quarries and construction sites.

Responsibilities

• Lead hazard identification and risk assessment activities, including HARA, HAZOP, and FMEA/FMEDA, for both new and existing products.
• Define safety requirements and safety integrity levels (SIL/PLr) in accordance with ISO 13849.
• Design and verify safety functions, including safety-related control systems and protective measures.
• Review and approve safety-critical hardware and software designs; conduct safety architecture reviews.
• Ensure products comply with ISO 13849, ISO 19014, Machinery Directive/Regulation, and other applicable standards.
• Prepare and maintain the safety case and technical file, including all required evidence for conformity assessment and CE marking.
• Liaise with Notified Bodies and external safety assessors throughout the certification process.
• Monitor evolving safety standards and regulatory requirements; assess impact on existing and future products.
• Define and embed functional safety processes within the product development lifecycle (V-model, agile safety workflows).
• Use safety analysis tooling (e.g. SISTEMA, SafexI, or equivalent) and PLC/safety controller environments.
• Establish and maintain functional safety plans, verification and validation plans, and associated records.
• Support or lead functional safety audits, both internal and external.
• Collaborate with hardware, software, systems, and product teams to integrate safety requirements throughout the design process.
• Mentor engineers on functional safety principles and best practices; facilitate safety workshops and training.
• Produce clear, high-quality deliverables: safety reports, analysis results, verification records, and certification documentation.
• Engage with customers, suppliers, and regulators on safety-related matters as required.

Requirements

• 3+ years of functional safety engineering experience in an industrial, robotics, or automation environment.
• Deep knowledge of ISO 13849; proven experience applying safety standards through full product development cycles.
• Hands-on experience with hazard analysis techniques: HARA, HAZOP, FMEA/FMEDA.
• Experience preparing technical documentation and safety cases for Notified Body review and CE marking.
• Familiarity with IEC 61131-3 safety PLC environments (CODESYS or equivalent: Siemens TIA Portal, Studio 5000, etc.).
• Strong understanding of the Machinery Directive/Regulation and its practical application to product design.
• Experience working within structured development lifecycles (V-model or equivalent) with safety processes embedded.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to present safety arguments to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Proficiency in English is a requirement for all roles.

Nice to have

• Relevant functional safety certifications: TÜV Functional Safety Engineer, IEC 62061 or ISO 13849 specialist, or equivalent.
• Experience with cybersecurity-safety interaction and combined security/safety risk assessments.
• Familiarity with IEC 61508 as the parent standard underpinning sector-specific functional safety norms.
• Experience in safety-critical development across autonomous robotics, advanced perception-based safety solutions, or heavy earthmoving equipment.
• Experience using model-based design or formal methods for safety-critical system development.

What the company offers

• Fair market salary
• Working location in the vibrant city of Zurich
• Flexibility and work-life balance considerations, including discussion of preferred working arrangement during the interview process

About the company

Gravis Robotics is a startup turning heavy construction machines into intelligent and autonomous robots. The team has over a decade of academic experience at the cutting edge of large-scale robotics. The company is a dynamic and versatile team, part of a young startup revolutionizing heavy construction. The team is international and works to solve problems with a global impact.

• Gravis Robotics is a startup turning heavy construction machines into intelligent and autonomous robots.
• The team has over a decade of academic experience at the cutting edge of large-scale robotics.
• The company is a dynamic and versatile team, part of a young startup revolutionizing heavy construction.
• The team is international and works to solve problems with a global impact.